1. Vietnam – a French Colony
France, after ruling Vietnam for over 100 years was defeated battle of Dien Bien Phu
France & Vietnam signed Geneva Peace Accords of 1954-split Vietnam along 17th parallel.
The North led by Ho Chi Minh and the South led by Ngo Dinh Diem
Stated that in 1956 Vietnam would hold elections to reunify country.
The US had other ideas.
US supported creation of counter-revolutionary group in S. Vietnam.

2. Ho Chi Minh -first a nationalist then a communist
Ho sought assistance from Pres. Wilson after WW I
Ho assisted downed American pilots during WW II in the fight against Japan
“He believed to attack only when you are sure of winning
nibble at the enemy, harass him in such a way that he can neither eat nor sleep in peace
to wear him out physically and mentally, “
Guerilla warriors need to not only focus on war, but politics and economics

3. The Ho Chi Minh Trail Extended from N Vietnam to S Vietnam
Est and used by N. Vietnamese troops for a major military supply route
Started south of Hanoi, traversed Laos and Cambodia on its way to S. Vietnam
more than a month's march to travel
underground support facilities, incl. Hospitals, weapons caches
main route for invasion of S. Vietnam in 1975

4. The Underground Tunnels
built in the time of the French
joined village to village and often passed beneath American bases
not only fortifications for Viet Cong guerillas, but also center of community life
several stories deep and housed up to 10,000 people, supplies and weapons
connected isolated pockets of Viet Cong territory enabled the guerrillas to mount surprise attacks and vanish without trace

5. The War America Lost
American forces are not able to defeat the North Vietnamese
1973 US pulls out
1975 North Vietnamese invade and capture Saigon.

6. Vietnam Today
Vietnam had to rebuild a land destroyed by war.
Recovery was slow due to US boycott of Vietnam
1990s Vietnam introduced free market reforms and diplomatic relations with the US normalized

7. Tragedy in Cambodia
During the Vietnam War fighting spilled over into neighboring Cambodia
After Americans left, communist guerrillas known as the Khmer Rouge overthrew the government.
Led by Pol Pot they slaughtered millions in what was known as the “Killing Fields”
1979 Vietnam invaded and Pol Pot’s forces retreated UN supervised free elections and a new government started to rebuild
Pol Pot died in hiding before facing trial for Crimes against Humanity